Dont sling mud at the RTA

Its so disheartening to observe that residents and local newspapers are blaming it on the RTA.

As a media friend of mine observed, the campaign on the Dubai RTA should go like this..
Traffic Jams....We have worked on it
Road Blocks....We have done it
Traffic fines....We are increasing it...

The other day, Gulf News, a reputed publication of UAE observed that RTA fines randomly without rhyme or reason. The article goes on to say.."Beware of offering friends a lift in your car as you may end up with a hefty fine, say some residents.."

Though its very easy to sling mud on any authority, I would beg to differ. RTA, is doing the best to make Dubai a better place, a safer place. There would not be a single instance where RTA fines for offering a lift to a friend leave alone a stranger. The RTA has issue only when giving lifts with a motive of profit.

Key points of RTA directive, as I have understood from the media.
Thus if you give free lift to friend or stranger, its no issue.
If you pool car among people & the costs are shared ...no problem.
RTA does not aim to make friends out of strangers, by allowing only friends.

For reference

http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/12/06/10172703.html

RTA 'issuing random fines' - GULF NEWS
By Ashfaq Ahmed, Staff ReporterPublished: December 05, 2007, 23:14

Dubai: Beware of offering friends a lift in your car as you may end up with a hefty fine, say some residents.
A number of residents have said they have been fined by Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) officials for sharing their cars with friends. They said the RTA inspectors did not listen to their explanations and issued fines for "using their cars as illegal taxis."
"I was slapped with a Dh5,000 fine as I stopped to pick up my friend who was waiting for me on the roadside," said Taufueeq A. an Indian banker.
He said an RTA inspector in plainclothes approached his car and asked for his car registration, he tried to explain the situation but said he was not listened to.
A manager from a leading tour and travel agency told Gulf News that his driver was fined when he dropped off his clients at a shopping centre.
"I told my driver to drop the guests at a shopping centre but he was given a fine of Dh5,000 for ferrying passengers 'illegally.' We have to oblige our guests and often offer them pick up and drop off services but this practice will have a negative impact on the business," he said.
He said he approached the RTA to appeal against the fine but it was in vain. Similar complaints have been made by other residents who have said they are now scared to offer lifts to friends.
"I used to share my car with friends from Sharjah to my office in Dubai but I have stopped because one of our friends got a Dh5,000 fine for sharing his car with friends," said Sharma, a marketing executive.
When contacted an RTA official refused to talk about particular cases but explained that "car pooling" for monetary gain is illegal but sharing cars with colleagues going to the same location is allowed. "Our inspectors are well trained and they know who is sharing a car with friends and who is running an illegal taxi," he said.
He said motorists can always approach the RTA office or call the RTA call centre number 8009090 if they feel that they have been wrongly fined.

Your comments:
The RTA fine people for carpooling but their own taxi service is hardly efficient. The other day, my friend and I were waiting for a taxi but not a single one was willing to cooperate. And one taxi driver even played a prank on us by driving away with our bags before we had time to get in. Thank you, RTA, for making our lives miserable. MayaDubai,UAEPosted: December 07, 2007, 12:55
I think the RTA is doing more harm than good to the country. The Dubai Police handle the traffic better than the RTA officials. They are also more understanding than them. PrajvalDubai,UAEPosted: December 07, 2007, 11:09
Like in many countries, it is illegal to charge money for giving a lift. But if the RTA thinks that this is always the case, it just shows a lack of common sense on their part. They might be catching one guilty person but harassing 99 passengers in the process.DaveDubai,UAEPosted: December 07, 2007, 10:30
A majority of us can?t afford to buy private vehicles. I think the RTA should try to help rather than behave like this. At least, improve the RTA bus service, especially to the Jafza area. I almost lost my job because I could never reach office on time, thanks to the inefficient RTA bus service.JopadsDubai,UAEPosted: December 07, 2007, 09:38
About two weeks back when I had gone to drop my colleague, I was suddenly stopped by RTA officers. Without any explanation, they seized my driver's licence and registration card and slapped a fine. Since then, I have gone twice to the RTA office and have registered a formal complaint but nothing has come of it. DevDubai,UAEPosted: December 07, 2007, 08:31
I think the RTA is doing the right thing because people will never accept that they are wrong and that they are plying illegal taxis. AliDubai,UAEPosted: December 07, 2007, 06:04
I fail to understand the RTA's logic. If they want people to use the public transport, they should make it more efficient. Carpooling will not only reduce traffic congestion but also lower the level of pollution. BhavnaDubai,UAEPosted: December 07, 2007, 03:31
I have been a victim of this RTA law. Once, I had gone to pick up my wife from the park, when suddenly three RTA officials ordered me to stop my car and asked for the registration papers. Then they slapped a fine on me saying that I was carrying passengers. They refused to listen to my explanations and just left the scene. They were also very rude. AftabDubai,UAEPosted: December 07, 2007, 01:41
I had a very bad experience seven months back. I was picking up two of my friends from Deira when one man approached me and asked for my driving licence and registration card. I gave them to him but without any explanation, he just handed me a slip and told me to collect my card from the police station. When I went there, I was told that I had been fined Dh2000 for driving my car as a private taxi. I went to the RTA office four times to seek help but with no success. Finally, I had to pay the fine. B.M.Dubai,UAEPosted: December 06, 2007, 10:46
I can only read this article with shock and horror. If the RTA wants to get rid of illegal taxis, why don't they introduce more government taxis on the road? InekeDubai,UAEPosted: December 06, 2007, 10:43
I think RTA's action is putting people through a lot of unnecessary trouble. Often, we drop our relatives or friends to airports and hospitals. If we are penalised for doing so, it will be very difficult for people to extend a helping hand to close ones. I request the RTA to review the decision. HaridasDubai,UAEPosted: December 06, 2007, 10:17
Wouldn't the RTA need some definitive proof to fine someone? The officers would have to have some evidence proving that the lift was given for money. Or else, such arbitrary fines would only discourage people from carpooling. NishaDubai,UAEPosted: December 06, 2007, 10:07
I think the RTA inspectors should take time to listen to the public. If the situation continues, people will stop buying cars. JaffarDubai,UAEPosted: December 06, 2007, 10:03
I don't know how inspectors can figure out whether someone is plying an illegal taxi when they take just half a minute to slap a fine. KarimDubai,UAEPosted: December 06, 2007, 09:36
How can you tell just by looking at the face of the driver whether he is giving a lift for genuine reasons or for money? I feel carpooling will lead to less congestion on the roads. So we can reach office faster and put in more hours at work. We can also get back home earlier. RupaDubai,UAEPosted: December 06, 2007, 09:29
I got to know of this when they fined my cousin for bringing his friends from the airport. Some action should be taken against this. AmerSharjah,UAEPosted: December 06, 2007, 09:29
Well, it seems like the RTA needs a lot more money these days. Why else would they fine people for no reason at all? They have even installed parking metres in residential areas. So where should people park their cars? SiaDubai,UAEPosted: December 06, 2007, 09:17
This is just another way of making things difficult and expensive for the common man in Dubai.HaroonSharjah,UAEPosted: December 06, 2007, 09:15
In most cases, I have seen that the officials refuse to listen. And they often slap a fine because of a misunderstanding.AlexandreSharjah,UAEPosted: December 06, 2007, 09:03
The RTA call centres are useless. They say they will look into the matter but nothing ever happens.ManojDubai,UAEPosted: December 06, 2007, 08:58
One of my friends had to face the same problem. He was taking his friend to the airport when suddenly, an RTA officer fined him and they were delayed by half an hour. We didn?t get a very positive response from the RTA office when we reported the incident.NaveenDubai,UAEPosted: December 06, 2007, 08:24
This is absurd. On one hand, we talk about reducing the number of cars on our roads and, on the other, we get fined for sharing a car to reach the same workplace. Also, being fined for travelling with friends is utterly ridiculous. If you try calling the RTA, you will only get more frustrated. OswaldDubai,UAEPosted: December 06, 2007, 08:14
What is happening? We can?t even pick up our relatives, friends or guests? Is doing so illegal? I am confused.JasonDubai,UAEPosted: December 06, 2007, 08:04
I do appreciate all the work done by the RTA. But at the same time, RTA inspectors are unable to make a distinction between illegal taxis and people ferrying their friends to different locations. The RTA should definitely ask the inspectors to at least listen to the driver or car owner.AboobackerDubai,UAEPosted: December 06, 2007, 07:41
This is just RTA's way of making money. They don't care for anyone. ReahanDubai,UAEPosted: December 06, 2007, 07:40
I think the RTA should review the process. The driver or the owner should be given a fair chance to explain. The truth of the matter is the transport system is not efficient enough to meet the growing demands of the population. These short-term measures can only be detrimental.PereraDubai,UAEPosted: December 06, 2007, 07:39
I wonder if they will fine us for riding with our family in future. This is painful! RathnaChennai,IndiaPosted: December 06, 2007, 07:17
It is a good move. However, the RTA inspectors should have the patience to listen to the owners or drivers before slapping a fine. NarayananDubai,UAEPosted: December 06, 2007, 07:01
We all know that cancelling a fine is a time consuming process. The RTA should train its staff to not slap unjust fines. KarkainDubai,UAEPosted: December 06, 2007, 06:49
This is unbelievable. In other countries, people are encouraged to share a car to reduce pollution and traffic jams. I think, there is need for more education. Or else, how could something like this happen? B.P.Abu Dhabi,UAEPosted: December 06, 2007, 05:59
I guess, the RTA has to better train its officers. It sounds like a way of making money. Dubai has one of highest carbon dioxide emission rates in the world. The government should encourage car pooling instead of discouraging people from doing so. JudeLos Angeles,USAPosted: December 06, 2007, 05:00
Being fined for picking up a friend is totally unacceptable. There should be a provision to appeal against such fines. The RTA officials should at least listen before slapping a fine. MaskDubai,UAEPosted: December 06, 2007, 03:27
In a country where traffic jams and more than one car per person are the norms, it is surprising that car pools or sharing cars with friends is frowned upon. Strange indeed! ChandrasekharAuckland,New Zealand